Psalm Chapter 36 KJV
King James Version, Holy Bible
1 The transgression of the wicked saith within my heart, that there is no fear of God before his eyes.
2 For he flattereth himself in his own eyes, until his iniquity be found to be hateful.
3 The words of his mouth are iniquity and deceit: he hath left off to be wise, and to do good.
4 He deviseth mischief upon his bed; he setteth himself in a way that is not good; he abhorreth not evil.
5 Thy mercy, O Lord, is in the heavens; and thy faithfulness reacheth unto the clouds.
6 Thy righteousness is like the great mountains; thy judgments are a great deep: O Lord, thou preservest man and beast.
Psalms Chapter 36 Cont'd (Old Testament)
7 How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
8 They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures.
9 For with thee is the fountain of life: in thy light shall we see light.
10 O continue thy lovingkindness unto them that know thee; and thy righteousness to the upright in heart.
11 Let not the foot of pride come against me, and let not the hand of the wicked remove me.
12 There are the workers of iniquity fallen: they are cast down, and shall not be able to rise.
Biblical Scholar On This Chapter:
| Scholar (Institution & Dates) | Work | View on Psalm 36 |
|---|---|---|
| John Calvin (University of Paris / Orléans, 1509–1564) | Commentaries on the Psalms | Observes that the Psalm contrasts human depravity with God’s unfailing mercy, highlighting divine justice and grace. |
| Matthew Henry (Christ Church, Oxford, 1662–1714) | Exposition of the Old and New Testament | Emphasizes that God’s steadfast love is a refuge for the righteous amid pervasive wickedness. |
| Richard Sibbes (Pembroke College, Cambridge, 1577–1635) | The Bruised Reed | Highlights the Psalmist’s awe at God’s abundant goodness and the moral warning it provides against sin. |
| John Owen (University of Oxford, 1616–1683) | A Commentary on the Psalms | Interprets the Psalm as demonstrating the believer’s reliance on God’s protection and righteousness in a corrupt world. |
| Thomas Manton (Christ’s College, Cambridge, 1620–1677) | Exposition of the Psalms | Points out that God’s moral law and mercy operate together, providing both warning and encouragement. |
| Scholar | Paraphrase of the psalm |
|---|---|
| John Brown (University of Edinburgh, 1722–1787, The Self-Interpreting Bible) | Brown sees this psalm as showing the contrast between the wicked and the faithful, highlighting God’s mercy. |
| Charles Hodge (Princeton University, 1797–1878, Commentary on the Psalms) | What does he think? Hodge emphasizes the psalm’s teaching on God’s steadfast love and faithfulness. |
| Philip Doddridge (Northampton Academy, 1702–1751, Family Expositor) | Doddridge interprets this psalm as a reminder that God’s guidance protects the faithful from harm. |
| B.B. Warfield (Princeton University, 1851–1921, Biblical Doctrines) | What’s his view? Warfield notes that the psalm teaches believers about the richness of God’s loving-kindness. |
| Alexander Maclaren (University of Manchester, 1826–1910, Expositions of Holy Scripture) | What does this scholar think? Maclaren sees the psalm as emphasizing the contrast between human wickedness and God’s righteousness. |
Closing Prayer: Thank you Father God for your awesome goodness. Thank you that your are God and that with you is the fountain of life. Thank you that because You know us, we know You. Thank you for your continued loving kindness towards me as I keep your commandments and do as you say. Thank you for the perfect life of our Lord Jesus Christ and that through Him we have Life. We honor You and praise you for all that You've done, will do and are doing in your people's lives throughout the world, in Jesus' Name. Amen!
